Deploying upgrades for cloud services

Abstract

A software upgrade to be deployed by a cloud extension agent is received by a remote network management platform, the cloud extension agent running locally on a network and initiating an outbound connection to the remote network management platform through a firewall of the network. A command is generated for the software upgrade, the command comprising an identification of a source of the software upgrade. The command is provided to the cloud extension agent, wherein providing the command causes the cloud extension agent to acquire the software upgrade from the identified source and deploy the software upgrade.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 initiating, by a cloud extension agent executed on a server and running locally on a corporate network, an outbound connection to a remote network management platform, wherein the outbound connection comprises a secure and persistent channel that is established through a firewall using a standard internet protocol; 
 receiving, by the cloud extension agent, a software upgrade command instructing the cloud extension agent to initiate a software upgrade process, wherein the software upgrade command is received via the outbound connection from a web portal of the remote network management platform, wherein the web portal is a dedicated web portal for managing the cloud extension agent; 
 in response to receiving the software upgrade command, initiating, by the cloud extension agent, a connection with a file server associated with a software upgrade based at least in part on the software upgrade command; 
 retrieving, by the cloud extension agent, the software upgrade from the file server based on the software upgrade command; 
 verifying, by the cloud extension agent, that the software upgrade is received from a verified source based at least in part on a security password included in the software upgrade command; and 
 deploying the software upgrade at the cloud extension agent. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a completed status indication that the software upgrade has been successfully deployed at the cloud extension agent. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if the software upgrade is applicable to the cloud extension agent prior to retrieving the software upgrade from the file server. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the software upgrade command comprises a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the file server for downloading the software upgrade. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the remote network management platform manages a plurality of cloud extension agents. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the software upgrade command comprises a password for verifying an identity of the cloud extension agent to retrieve the software upgrade. 
     
     
       7. A system comprising:
 a memory; and 
 a hardware resource operatively coupled to the memory, the hardware resource to: 
 initiate, by a cloud extension agent executed on a server and running locally on a corporate network, an outbound connection to a remote network management platform, wherein the outbound connection comprises a secure and persistent channel that is established through a firewall using a standard internet protocol; 
 receive, by the cloud extension agent, a software upgrade command instructing the cloud extension agent to initiate a software upgrade process, wherein the software upgrade command is received via the outbound connection from a web portal of the remote network management platform, wherein the web portal is a dedicated web portal for managing the cloud extension agent; 
 in response to receiving the software upgrade command, initiate, by the cloud extension agent, a connection with a file server associated with a software upgrade based at least in part on the software upgrade command; 
 retrieve, by the cloud extension agent, the software upgrade from the file server based on the software upgrade command; 
 verify, by the cloud extension agent, that the software upgrade is received from a verified source based at least in part on a security password included in the software upgrade command; and 
 deploy the software upgrade at the cloud extension agent. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the hardware resource is further to:
 provide a completed status indication that the software upgrade has been successfully deployed at the cloud extension agent. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the hardware resource is further to:
 determine if the software upgrade is applicable to the cloud extension agent prior to retrieving the software upgrade from the file server. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the software upgrade command comprises a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the file server for downloading the software upgrade. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the remote network management platform manages a plurality of cloud extension agents. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the software upgrade command comprises a password for verifying an identity of the cloud extension agent to retrieve the software upgrade. 
     
     
       13. A non-transitory computer readable medium, having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a hardware resource, cause the hardware resource to:
 initiate, by a cloud extension agent executed on a server and running locally on a corporate network, an outbound connection to a remote network management platform, wherein the outbound connection comprises a secure and persistent channel that is established through a firewall using a standard internet protocol; 
 receive, by the cloud extension agent, a software upgrade command instructing the cloud extension agent to initiate a software upgrade process, wherein the software upgrade command is received via the outbound connection from a web portal of the remote network management platform, wherein the web portal is a dedicated web portal for managing the cloud extension agent; 
 in response to receiving the software upgrade command, initiate, by the cloud extension agent, a connection with a file server associated with a software upgrade based at least in part on the software upgrade command; 
 retrieve, by the cloud extension agent, the software upgrade from the file server based on the software upgrade command; 
 verify, by the cloud extension agent, that the software upgrade is received from a verified source based at least in part on a security password included in the software upgrade command; and 
 deploy the software upgrade at the cloud extension agent. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the hardware resource is further to:
 provide a completed status indication that the software upgrade has been successfully deployed at the cloud extension agent. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the hardware resource is further to:
 determine if the software upgrade is applicable to the cloud extension agent prior to retrieving the software upgrade from the file server. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the software upgrade command comprises a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the file server for downloading the software upgrade. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the remote network management platform manages a plurality of cloud extension agents. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the software upgrade command comprises a password for verifying an identity of the cloud extension agent to retrieve the software upgrade.